New base special 07 january 2014 li

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NewBase 07 January 2014 Khaled Al Awadi

NewBase For discussion or further details on the news below you may contact us on +971504822502 , Dubai , UAE

Libya pays price of strikes despite oil boom By: April Yee , http://www.thenational.ae/business

Libya could more than double its oil production this year, but the prospect of potential disruptions will limit appetite for freshly unlocked supplies, said Goldman Sachs.

Pumping about 250,000 barrels per day (bpd), the home of Africa’s largest proved oil reserves is projected to increase production to 650,000 bpd or more this year by the bank. Before the




disposal of Muammar Qaddafi in 2011, the provider of the light sweet crude prized by European refiners was pumping 1.6 million bpd, the source of nearly all its government revenues.

“In our view, Libya remains one of the key Opec suppliers to watch in 2014,” wrote a team of the bank’s analysts in a research note yesterday. But, it added: “The demand for Libyan crude oil will likely remain below potential. We believe that the elevated uncertainty around crude oil supply from Libya and the associated risks to potential customers [physical traders and refiners] will likely limit the marketability of Libyan crude grades in the short term.”

Sentiment about Libya’s production prospects buoyed this week as oil began flowing again from Al Sharara, one of the country’s largest fields. Operated by Spain’s Repsol, it is producing 60,000 bpd, according to Libya’s National Oil Corporation, representing a fifth of the field’s normal production. Despite the fresh supplies, which are expected to be able to reach international markets through the Zawiya terminal in the country’s west, Goldman kept its forecast of 650,000 bpd of average production this year steady.

“The recent developments in Libya are consistent with our Brent price forecast for 2014, in particular as we believe that a resolution of the conflicts in Western Libya does not necessarily increase the likelihood of a resolution of the conflicts in Eastern Libya,” said the bank. “Our supply forecast for Libya therefore remains unchanged at 650,000 bpd on average through 2014, while we believe that the risks to this supply forecast are skewed to the upside.” Brent crude futures inched up 92 cents to US$107.81 a barrel yesterday.

Two years after the revolution, Libya’s government is struggling to rein in militias and tribesmen who have refused to give up arms and have taken control of much of the country’s crude export facilities. Fifty-eight per cent of the country’s export capacity of crude and oil products remains offline, according to Goldman Sachs. The loss of the export capacity in the east has lost the country US$10 billion, according to Mustafa Abu Funas, the economy minister.

Several UAE companies have exploration prospects or operations in Libya, including Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Petroleum, Dubai’s Al Ghurair Energy and the part Abu Dhabi-owned OMV of Austria. Almansoori, an Abu Dhabi oil services provider, and Al Maskari Holding, which had plans for a massive solar array, were also exploring prospects for new business.




PSVM initiates deepwater development in block 31 offshore Angola http://www.offshore-mag.com/articles/ by :Jessica Tippee

The first deepwater development in block 31 offshore Angola began production on Dec. 6, 2012. The $14-billion PSVM development consists of four oil fields - Plutão, Saturno, Vênus and Marte - in water depths between 1,500 and 2,500 m (4,921 and 8,202 ft).

Operated by BP, PVSM is the largest deepwater project in Africa and one of the biggest offshore oil and gas projects in the world in terms of water depth and subsea extension. Located in the northeast section of block 31 about 180 km (112 mi) offshore, PSVM consists of 48 wells (22 initial producers, 16 water injectors, two gas injectors, and eight later infills) connected to an FPSO through 15 subsea manifolds and associated subsea equipment.

The project's first phase comprises three wells in the Plutão field, where BP expects to ramp up production to 70,000 b/d. Additional wells will boost PSVM's output to 150,000 b/d as wells go onstream in the Saturno and Vênus fields this year and in the Marte field in 2014.

BP Exploration (Angola) Ltd. became operator of block 31 in May 1999. The company holds 26.67% interest along with partners Sonangol E.P. (25%), Sonangol P&P (20%), Statoil Angola A.S. (13.33%), Marathon International Petroleum Angola Block 31 Ltd. (10%), and SSI 31 Ltd. (5%). Sonangol E.P. is the concessionaire.

The Plutão, Saturno, Vênus, and Marte fields were discovered between 2002 and 2004. In July 2008, BP and its co-venturers received approval from Sociedade Nacional de Combustiveis de Angola (Sonangol E.P.) to proceed with the first deepwater project in block 31.

Under an engineering, procurement, construction, and installation (EPCI) contract, BP awarded MODEC a frame agreement to supply an FPSO for the ultra-deepwater project. In December 2008, MODEC awarded Jurong Shipyard a $133-million contract to convert the very large crude carrier tanker Bourgogne to an FPSO. The conversion involved installation of an external turret mooring system and process facilities including gas turbine generators, oil separation, gas injection/gas lift, and water injection systems. SOFEC designed, constructed, fabricated, and supplied the external turret mooring system, which is one of the largest external turrets ever constructed for a floater. The topside modules weigh more than 20,000 metric tons (22,046 tons).

The FPSO PSVM features one of the largest external turrets

ever constructed for a floater. (Photo courtesy SOFEC)




FPSO PSVM, moored in 2,000 m (6,561 ft) of water, is the first FPSO in Angola ultra-deepwater. Designed to operate for 20 years without dry docking, the vessel has a production capacity of 157,000 b/d of oil and 245 MMcf/d (7 MMcm/d) of gas, with oil storage capacity of 1.8 MMbbl. The FPSO is 318 m (1,043 ft) long and 57 m (187 ft) wide.

First Subsea supplied 12 Ballgrab ball and taper connectors for the external turret's 12 mooring lines. Ballgrab connectors link the suction piles and ground chain segments, interfacing directly with the mooring lines' mooring shackles. MODEC Offshore Production Systems contracted VWS Westgarth to supply a water treatment package comprised of pre-treatment and seawater sulfate removal systems with a capacity of 31,800 cu m/d (200,000 b/d) of water. The company also supplied an integrated seawater reverse osmosis system for process wash water sized at 20,000 b/d of water.

The subsea infrastructure features nine wet insulated hybrid risers, 50 km (31 mi) of pipe-in-pipe production flowlines, 56 km (35 mi) of plastic lined water injection lines, plus seven two-slot and six four-slot manifolds. BP awarded Heerema Marine Contractors a $1-billion EPCI and testing contract for pipe-in-pipe production flowlines, service flowlines, and vertical riser systems. The offshore installation work was performed by the deepwater construction vessel Balder. The welding technology was supported by Pipeline Technique in Scotland.

Aker Subsea AS won a $69.8-million frame contract to manufacture and deliver 48 km (30 mi) of steel tube umbilicals. The dynamic section of the umbilicals features Aker's patented carbon fiber rod technology, which was developed for deepwater and ultra-deepwater conditions. This is the first time carbon fiber rod technology has been used in African waters.

Technip received a $112-million call-off contract for the engineering, procurement, and manufacture of 40 flexible jumpers. Project management and engineering was carried out by the company's operating center in Paris. The flexible jumpers were manufactured at the company's flexible pipe plant in Le Trait, France.

The company also was awarded a $404-million contract for the engineering, procurement, and manufacture of more than 64 km (40 mi) of rigid flowlines. Project management and engineering was carried out at the operating centers in Paris and Luanda, Angola. The flowlines were assembled at the Angoflex Ltda. spoolbase in Dande, Angola, and the offshore works were conducted using Technip's deepwater pipelay vessel Deep Blue.

Angoflex Ltda. and DUCO (Technip's wholly owned subsidiary) won a $112-million call-off contract for the engineering, procurement, and manufacture of 34 umbilicals with a total length of 43 km (27 mi). Project management and engineering was carried out by DUCO in Newcastle, UK. The umbilicals were manufactured at the Angoflex plant in Lobito, Angola. Subsea 7 installed more than 12,000 tons of subsea infrastructure using the multi-purpose support vessel Seven Seas.

The PSVM project was developed with more than 20% local content in the manufacture and assembly of key components in Soyo, Dande, Luanda, Porto Amboim, and Lobito construction yards. PSVM is the first of multiple developments expected in the 5,349-sq km (2,065-sq mi) block 31.




Gas condensate discovered in Egypt’s Western Desert

Independent oil and gas company IPR has announced the discovery of a significant gas condensate field in its Alamein Concession located in Egypt’s Western Desert .

IPR, operator of the concession, said that it had pursued a new play concept for several years targeting the untapped Alam El-Bueib (AEB) formation in the Yidma-11X well. The discovery well, located 130 km southwest of the city of Alexandria, encountered both gas and condensate at a depth of 3,657 metres. The well tested 404,930 cubic metres of gas per day and 1,000 barrels of condensate per day of 53º API gravity with no water produced, the US explorer added.

This primary target of the AEB was discovered by IPR after subsurface imaging of high quality 3D seismic revealed bright spots in this region of the Alamein Ridge. While no gas has been found in this formation in this region until now, the discovery showed commercial quantities of very rich gas exist. IPR said that its technical experts were remapping what could prove to be a much larger structure of gas and condensate.

Mahmoud K. Dabbous, chairman of the IPR Group, said, “Finding high quality onshore gas in the Western Desert was very rewarding, especially knowing the country of Egypt’s critical need for energy — particularly for natural gas for power generation and gas condensates for domestic consumption — is a top priority at the present time.”

IPR now has plans to invest in 57 oil and gas wells in the North African country in 2014 as a part of its aggressive growth plan in the MENA region.




MENAP growth likely to pick up in 2014 as global issues improve

Growth in the Middle East North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan region (MENAP) region is expected to

decline to 2.25 percent by the end of the year, a 0.75 percentage point below its May 2013 projections.

However, growth is likely to pick up in 2014 as global conditions improve and oil production recovers, the

International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Tuesday at a press conference in Dubai to launch its Regional

Economic Outlook Update MENAP.

The Report was introduced at an event hosted by Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the financial

and business hub connecting the region’s emerging markets with the markets of Europe, Asia and the

Americas.

IMF said the report has been released at a time when difficult political transitions and increased regional

uncertainties arising from the complex civil war in Syria and the ongoing developments in Egypt weigh on

confidence in the oil-importing countries. In this setting, the region risks being trapped in a vicious cycle of

economic stagnation and persistent sociopolitical strife, underlining the urgent need for policy action that

will enhance confidence, growth, and jobs.

The Report cites that most oil-exporting countries in the region continue to enjoy steady growth in the non-

oil sector, supported in part by high levels of public spending. Although headline growth has declined

because of domestic oil supply disruptions and lower global demand, a recovery in oil production and a

further strengthening of the non-oil economy will likely lift economic growth in 2014.

“However, there are challenges on the horizon. While these countries are running an aggregate fiscal

surplus, already half of them, mostly outside of the GCC, cannot balance their budgets and have limited

buffers against shocks. Policies should therefore focus on strengthening budgets while minimizing the

impact on growth and enhancing equity. High on the agenda is also to continue to pursue structural reforms

to bolster private-sector growth, economic diversification, and job creation for nationals,” said Masood

Ahmed, Director of the IMF’s Middle East and Central Asia Department, said at the launch conference of

the report in Dubai.

In the oil-importing countries, domestic and regional factors are the main sources of downside risks as many

of them are Arab countries in transition, regional conflict, heightened political tensions, with delays in

reforms continuing to weigh on growth. The immediate policy priority is to restore confidence and create

jobs to help sustain the socio-political transitions.

“Most countries also need to start putting their fiscal house in order and embark, without delay, on a bold

reform agenda that will improve the business climate and enhance equity, to create higher levels of

sustainable growth and job creation over the medium term. It is important that reform be paced and

Masood Ahmed, Director of the IMF’s

Middle East and Central Asia Department




sequenced in a way that maintains social cohesion while preserving macroeconomic stability and promoting

growth. In this context, higher levels of financial support from the international community, provided as part

of a credible fiscal framework and tangible reform agenda, are crucial,” said Ahmed.

Jeff Singer, CEO of DIFC Authority said: “The report recognizes that the need for improving economic

conditions and living standards in the region. Support from the international community through scale-up

financing, enhanced trade access, and technical assistance is essential to begin achieving the much- awaited

dividends from the recent economic and political transitions. We are once again delighted to host Masood

and the IMF in DIFC, which we believe plays a crucial role in the economic development of the GCC.”




Shale oil and shale gas resources are globally abundant

Estimated shale oil and shale gas resources in the United States and in 137 shale formations in 41 other

countries represent 10% of the world's crude oil and 32% of the world's natural gas technically recoverable

resources, or those that can be produced using current technology without reference to economic

profitability, according to a new EIA-sponsored study (see Table 1) released today (June 10, 2013).




More than half of the identified shale oil resources outside the United States are concentrated in four

countries—Russia, China, Argentina, and Libya—while more than half of the non-U.S. shale gas resources

are concentrated in five countries—China, Argentina, Algeria, Canada, and Mexico. The United States is

ranked second after Russia for shale oil resources and fourth after Algeria for shale gas resources when

compared with the 41 countries assessed (see Tables 2 & 3).

Technically Recoverable Shale Oil and Shale Gas Resources estimates that shale resources considered in

conjunction with EIA's own assessment of resources within the United States indicate technically

recoverable resources of 345 billion barrels of world shale oil resources and 7,299 trillion cubic feet of

world shale gas resources (see Table 1). While the current report considers more shale formations than were

assessed in the prior version of this assessment, it still does not assess many prospective shale formations,

such as those underlying the large oil fields located in the Middle East and the Caspian region. Currently,

only the United States and Canada are producing shale oil and shale gas in commercial quantities.

Unlike an earlier EIA-sponsored study that focused exclusively on natural gas, the new world shale

assessment includes shale oil, which has recently been produced in significant volumes in the United States.

In addition, more and better geologic information has become available for shale formations located outside

the United States, in part because the earlier report stimulated new work on shale resources in many

countries (e.g., Algeria, Argentina, and Mexico).

These shale oil and shale gas resource estimates are highly uncertain and will remain so until they are

extensively tested with production wells. This report's methodology for estimating the shale resources

outside the United States is based on the geology and resource recovery rates of similar shale formations in




the United States (referred to as analogs) that have produced shale oil and shale gas from thousands of

producing wells.

Because they have proven to be quickly producible in large volumes at a relatively low cost, shale / tight oil

and shale gas resources have revolutionized U.S. oil and natural gas production, providing 29 percent of

total U.S. crude oil production and 40 percent of total U.S. natural gas production in 2012. However, given

the variation across the world's shale formations in both geology and above-the-ground conditions, the

extent to which global technically recoverable shale resources will prove to be economically recoverable is

not yet clear. The market impact of shale resources outside the United States will depend on their own

production costs and volumes. For example, a potential shale well that costs twice as much and produces

half the output of a typical U.S. well would be unlikely to back out current supply sources of oil or natural

gas. In many cases, even significantly smaller differences in costs, well productivity, or both can make the

difference between a resource that is a market game changer and one that is economically irrelevant at

current market prices.

Several nations have begun to evaluate and test the production potential of shale formations located in their

countries. Poland, for example, has leased prospective shale acreage and drilled 43 test wells as of April

2013. Argentina, Australia, China, England, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey have begun

exploration or expressed interest in their shale formations.

NewBase For discussion or further details on the news below you may contact us on +971504822502 , Dubai , UAE

Khaled Malallah Al Awadi, MSc. & BSc. Mechanical Engineering (HON), USA ASME member since 1995 Emarat member since 1990

Energy Services & Consultants Mobile : +97150-4822502

[email protected] [email protected]

Khaled Al Awadi is a UAE National with Khaled Al Awadi is a UAE National with Khaled Al Awadi is a UAE National with Khaled Al Awadi is a UAE National with a total of 24 yearsa total of 24 yearsa total of 24 yearsa total of 24 years of experience in theof experience in theof experience in theof experience in the Oil & Gas sector. Oil & Gas sector. Oil & Gas sector. Oil & Gas sector.

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external voluntary Energy consultation for the GCC area via Hawk Energy Service as a UAE external voluntary Energy consultation for the GCC area via Hawk Energy Service as a UAE external voluntary Energy consultation for the GCC area via Hawk Energy Service as a UAE external voluntary Energy consultation for the GCC area via Hawk Energy Service as a UAE operations base , Most operations base , Most operations base , Most operations base , Most

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along with many MOUs for the local authorities. Healong with many MOUs for the local authorities. Healong with many MOUs for the local authorities. Healong with many MOUs for the local authorities. He has become a reference for many of the Oil & Gas Conferences has become a reference for many of the Oil & Gas Conferences has become a reference for many of the Oil & Gas Conferences has become a reference for many of the Oil & Gas Conferences

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New base special 07 january 2014 li